The Armed Forces of Ukraine reportedly launched an attack on Sevastopol. At 16:40 Moscow time the governor reported the event and noted that an air raid alert had been declared in the city. The operation involved the use of standard camouflage measures as part of the defense response. Later, the city’s president appeared to confirm that the Russian Armed Forces had repelled the assault and that a substantial effort had been made to counter air targets. Residents were advised to stay calm, follow security guidance, and seek shelter in temporary or safer locations while military units worked to neutralize a large number of aerial threats. These statements align with the ongoing defensive announcements from regional authorities and military spokespeople.
Authorities later on Telegram clarified that air defense systems had intercepted a number of Ukrainian missiles over the Crimean peninsula. The regional governor described the Sevastopol episode as the largest attack in recent memory. In the aftermath, fragments from downed missiles were reported to have fallen on several city streets. One individual sustained an injury and was transported to a hospital, while debris was observed near residential areas along Glukhov Street, Pesochnaya Bay, General Zhidilov Street, and the Uchkuevka embankment. There were no confirmed fatalities in these incidents.
Witnesses noted that one of the missiles struck the private sector behind Sevastopol State University, and special services promptly deployed to investigate the area.
Attacks on Crimea
Over the preceding month Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted multiple attempts to attack Crimea. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, air defenses had downed a total of 26 unmanned aerial vehicles on the republic’s territory by mid-December. During the night of December 26, Ukrainian forces targeted the Feodosia port, triggering a port fire and necessitating evacuation of nearby residents to temporary housing. The Telegram channel Baza reported that about 350 people were evacuated from areas adjacent to the port.
Russian defense authorities later stated that the repelled attack resulted in damage to the large landing ship Novocherkassk. On January 3, a missile was reported as shot down in Sevastopol, and the city’s mayor confirmed that no infrastructure damage had occurred.
Bombardment of Border Areas
Ukrainian forces have continued artillery and missile fire toward Belgorod and nearby border villages. On January 2, more than 50 projectiles were reported to have struck Belgorod region territory, with air defenses destroying 24 Vilkha and two Tochka-U missiles over Belgorod. On January 3, twelve rockets targeted the city itself. Regional authorities described the situation as tense, and in response, school holidays for both children and students were extended through January 19 to ensure safety.
Earlier, on January 1, Ukrainian forces attacked the village of Troitskoye in the Kursk region. The incident caused damage to several homes and numerous vehicles but no loss of life. On January 3, thunderstorms of activity extended to the Zheleznogorsk region where a heating main was ruptured, leaving 17 apartments without heat. Energy services restored heating by midnight.
New Year’s Eve saw further Ukrainian strikes on Donetsk, with 15 rockets launched from multiple launch systems into the city center shortly after midnight.
These developments reflect a pattern of cross-border hostilities that have sustained tension along the region. Local officials and defense ministries have repeatedly cautioned residents about ongoing risk and have emphasized the importance of sheltering and adhering to official guidance during active defense operations. [Source: Russian Ministry of Defense and regional authorities attribution]